Political parties allow their cadres to support Ahok or Anies

Candidate number 1 in Jakarta gubernatorial election, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono-Sylviana Murni, did not make it to the second round. Two other candidates are trying to gain more vote from Agus-Sylvi supporters.

Foto: Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice Chairman of the Democratic Party, Roy Suryo has affirmed his party would decide its political stance after Jakarta Election Commission (KPUD) published official results of the Jakarta gubernatorial elections. "As I frequently mentioned, as an institution of the party and the winning team of Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono-Sylviana Murni, we will announce our official political stance after the Jakarta Election Commission named the candidates who entered to the second round of the race," he said via a short message on Tuesday (Feb 21).

Nevertheless, Democratic party allowed its cadres and elements of the party or volunteers to support another candidates. Roy reiterated it would not be on behalf of Agus-Sylvi team. "If there are elements of Democratic party or volunteers unrelated structurally, supported another candidates, it was the democratic right of the cadres," he said.

Meanwhile Secretary General of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Eddy Soeparno said PAN has established political communication with the team of two other pairs of candidates remaining in the Jakarta election, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok)-Djarot Saiful Hidayat and Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno.

According to him, political communication was done before determining the direction and support from PAN in second round of Jakarta elections. "We continue communicating with the leaders of both political parties that support Basuki-Djarot and Anies-Sandiaga," Eddy said via short messages, Tuesday (Feb 21).

In addition, Eddy said PAN has received the aspirations from PAN's cadres and constituents related point of view and input for the political stance of the PAN in the Jakarta elections. It would be consideration for PAN to decide the direction of its support. However, he said that until now there has been no decision on the support of PAN in Jakarta gubernatorial elections.

According to Eddy, the new decision would be announced after the Jakarta KPUD announced the official results of the election vote count. "Maybe we'll announce it after result from the Jakarta KPUD," said Eddy.

While related the view of PAN's cadres, Eddy affirmed his party does provide space for its cadres said the aspirations of the public. But it must be done in an ethical and respectful manner. "We gave freedom for PAN's cadres to convey their aspirations in public. However, when the PAN's officials making decisions, the entire board and cadres would be obey with the decision," he explained.

Known after candidate number 1 Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono-Sylviana Murni based on result of quick count loses in the first round, the teams of the candidate pairs of Ahok and Anies fighting to gain vote. Teams from the two candidates who qualify to the second round claimed also began to establish communication with the political parties that support Agus-Silvi.